Jack had carried on with his missions, moving through each one and into areas that he had been to before and others where he hadn't. He kept his ear to the ground for signs of the gorgon, even whispers of a mysterious hunter or some such. Wherever Gabriel had gone, it was out of sight and out of mind, far beyond his reach.
Yet, he had talked to snakes on occasion, and he also had managed to not be bitten in the process. Soon a snake or two would come to his fire to bask in the heat of it, well out of his range at first. Then one or two would come closer. Then one was sleeping with him. He'd even snuck one particularly persistent one into his room at the inn he had been staying at, and it alternated between resting at the fire or slithering over him like its own personal furniture.
He had, of course, heard the Western King was increasing the pay for live capture of creatures for the war effort. Some new magical binding spell to keep them in line and to punish their enemies. Many of the young hunters were excited and formed teams. Jack hadn't shown any interest, never had, but this time even less. He continued with his work, but he still listened to news over the weeks.
Creatures were captured and sent West. Harpies, a mermaid, werewolves and an assortment of others. He'd even heard a chimera was captured by a persistent group. And then the news came that a gorgon had been captured and that the Guild was going to increase in prestige and following because of it. Jack was dubious about that.
No, he rose from his seat at the communal dining area, gathered this things and took the first job that was in the area he had heard the gorgon captured. Below his skill level, but he didn't care.
It took him two weeks to catch up with the caravan from the Guild. He followed the words of villages and rumours, since many had never seen a gorgon. Bound, hooded, injured and subdued with magic, people came to see when the cage stopped in town. So it wasn't hard to find the gorgon and even less difficult to identify that it was Gabriel who was in that cage. He knew some of those scars.
He waited until the caravan was in motion before joining up with it, claiming to be traveling in the same direction for a job. Other hunters didn't question him, so he was given free reign to stay. On the road, he began to undo the magical restraints that kept Gabriel dopey and quiet, let the gorgon wake up.
He engaged another hunter with talk of the gorgon, making certain that Gabriel could and hopefully would identify his voice. A garter snake that liked to cuddle in his cloak was sent into the cage to give the gorgon a time to be ready to escape.
Under the cover of night, Jack killed them all. Quiet as the night itself, he murdered the hunters first then the caravan drivers and he released the other creatures. They did good work mauling the corpses and finishing off stragglers.
He opened the gorgon's cage last, swinging the door open and jingling the key to announce he was coming in. "This is the worst wedding I've never been to," he murmured as he opened the locks to Gabriel's restraints. "We should be away from here quickly. How limber are you feeling?"
no subject
Yet, he had talked to snakes on occasion, and he also had managed to not be bitten in the process. Soon a snake or two would come to his fire to bask in the heat of it, well out of his range at first. Then one or two would come closer. Then one was sleeping with him. He'd even snuck one particularly persistent one into his room at the inn he had been staying at, and it alternated between resting at the fire or slithering over him like its own personal furniture.
He had, of course, heard the Western King was increasing the pay for live capture of creatures for the war effort. Some new magical binding spell to keep them in line and to punish their enemies. Many of the young hunters were excited and formed teams. Jack hadn't shown any interest, never had, but this time even less. He continued with his work, but he still listened to news over the weeks.
Creatures were captured and sent West. Harpies, a mermaid, werewolves and an assortment of others. He'd even heard a chimera was captured by a persistent group. And then the news came that a gorgon had been captured and that the Guild was going to increase in prestige and following because of it. Jack was dubious about that.
No, he rose from his seat at the communal dining area, gathered this things and took the first job that was in the area he had heard the gorgon captured. Below his skill level, but he didn't care.
It took him two weeks to catch up with the caravan from the Guild. He followed the words of villages and rumours, since many had never seen a gorgon. Bound, hooded, injured and subdued with magic, people came to see when the cage stopped in town. So it wasn't hard to find the gorgon and even less difficult to identify that it was Gabriel who was in that cage. He knew some of those scars.
He waited until the caravan was in motion before joining up with it, claiming to be traveling in the same direction for a job. Other hunters didn't question him, so he was given free reign to stay. On the road, he began to undo the magical restraints that kept Gabriel dopey and quiet, let the gorgon wake up.
He engaged another hunter with talk of the gorgon, making certain that Gabriel could and hopefully would identify his voice. A garter snake that liked to cuddle in his cloak was sent into the cage to give the gorgon a time to be ready to escape.
Under the cover of night, Jack killed them all. Quiet as the night itself, he murdered the hunters first then the caravan drivers and he released the other creatures. They did good work mauling the corpses and finishing off stragglers.
He opened the gorgon's cage last, swinging the door open and jingling the key to announce he was coming in. "This is the worst wedding I've never been to," he murmured as he opened the locks to Gabriel's restraints. "We should be away from here quickly. How limber are you feeling?"